If the two exhibition games are any evidence, two glaring truths about the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team seem evident. Forward Alando Tucker appears every bit the all-conference player he is expected to be, and the youth of the Badgers still has some growing up to do to repeat the successes of seasons past.

Led by Tucker's 25 points and six rebounds, Wisconsin defeated a feisty Lawrence University team 81-46 Monday, but looked to be a little rusty and lacking chemistry in their second exhibition game of the season.

The Badgers used the same starting five as they did against UW-River Falls Nov. 5, with Tucker, sophomore center Brian Butch, junior forward Jason Chappell, junior guard Kammron Taylor and senior forward Ray Nixon initially taking the floor.

Wisconsin dominated statistically, holding the Vikings to only 28.8 percent shooting, while UW shot at a 68.6 percent clip for the game and enjoyed a considerable size advantage.

With the score 30-18 at the half, the game was much closer than expected early as Wisconsin played the antithesis of the kind of ball fans have grown accustomed to seeing under head coach Bo Ryan. The team looked very uncomfortable and rushed in the swing offense, turning the ball over four times in the first 5:21, which led to Ryan calling a quick timeout.

The team continued to appear awkward the rest of the half, however, committing eight turnovers and surrendering seven offensive rebounds, going into the locker room up only 12, despite shooting 57 percent and holding Lawrence to a paltry 23 percent from the field.

"All they had to do was hit some threes early and they'd be beating us," Ryan said, also adding that the Badgers' giving up offensive rebounds was a first-half concern.

Tucker was very impressive however, tallying 13 points on 6-8 shooting and also forced several Viking turnovers, before rallying the team during halftime.

"I think in the first half we didn't play hard as we could have and I stressed that at the half," Tucker said. "Night in and night out we need to bring that intensity that we brought in the second half."

"He did a great job. He works hard," said Ryan. "He really energized our guys defensively."

UW looked more composed and cohesive in the second half offensively, hitting 23 of 30 shots and picking up 14 assists, double the seven UW had in the first period of play.

"I thought we did a good job of [moving the ball]," Butch said of the offense in the second half. "We're still learning from each other and trying to play off each other and that is what these two games can get us ready for."

The team also turned the heat up defensively, limiting Lawrence to only three offensive rebounds. The Badgers took final control of the game when they went on a 20-4 run early in the second period, sparked by six straight points from Tucker and a vicious, crowd-pleasing block by Butch. From that point on, Wisconsin took a 55-30 lead and cruised the rest of the way.

Marcus Landry supplied the highlight reel play of the evening midway through the second stanza, when he dunked over a well-positioned Lawrence defender off a fast break, but Tanner Bronson received the loudest ovation of the night when he made a 3-pointer with 4:30 left in the game.

Butch ended the game with 10 points and three rebounds and Taylor chipped in 11 points and a game-high six assists.

Wisconsin now looks forward to the start of their regular season, which will begin against Norfolk State Friday night at the Paradise Jam Tournament in the Virgin Islands.

"Let's play," Ryan said. "I think the guys are ready. They are ready to play somebody when it counts."

"Physically we're there, we're ready. These games here are real important," Tucker said.